"Come on, Needle! Open your eyes already!" Bird nagged. "Please?"
"Stop that!" Flower snapped. "Don't you have anything to do that's not bugging your brother?"
"Sorry, Momma," Bird muttered, looking at her paws. "I'll make myself useful and go hunting." She bounded away. At that moment, Needle stretched open his eyes. Horrified, he let out a sudden wail.
"I can't see!"
Bird now returned with a small squirrel.
"Oh, shush!" She scoffed. "You're just being dramatic!"
"No! I can't see! It's just so dark! Dark, horrible nothingness!" Needle was howling now. "I can't, I can't, I just CAN'T!"
"Hush, little one," Flower soothed. "Maybe you're not used to seeing."
"I bet your eyes will adjust," Bird added. Needle brightened a bit.
"You're right!"
Chapter Two
About a half moon later, Needle overheard Bird and Flower whispering to each other.
"Mom, you can't hide this from him!" Needle heard Bird say.
"It's for his own good that he doesn't know!" Flower growled back. "If he knew, he would be heartbroken!"
"Well, you'll have to tell him some time. Let's face it. He'll never see. He's blind, and he's going to figure it out eventually," Bird snarled quietly.
"What will we do with him, then? If he can't see, how will he survive?"
"I don't know. He'll be a horrible hunter. And of course, a horrible fighter. He doesn't even know where he's putting his paws!"
Needle turned his head downwards. He didn't see his paws. I don't, and I neverwill. He thought bitterly. He started out into the forest, his head and tail hanging.
"I'll just leave them. Leave and never come back. They don't need a BLIND-" he spat the word out like a piece of rotten food. "-pup who can't even catch his own prey. Well, this blind pup doesn't need them. I have no home, no family, and no skill. I'm useless."
Chapter Three
After walking for quite a while, Needle smelled something unfamiliar. By the scent Needle could tell it was another dog; one younger than he. Something moved in the bushes. A tiny animal came hurtling out at Needle. Needle sidestepped, sending the young dog crashing to the ground. The pup scrambled to his paws and looked up at Needle.
"Ｈi! I've never seen you before! My name is- woah! Why are you staring at me? Stop it!" He yelped. Needle looked away shamefully.
"What's wrong with you?" The pup inquired.
"There's nothing wrong with me!" Needle whipped around. He leaned over until his nose was a claw-length from the pup's face.
"Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!" The pup squealed. "Your eyes are all cloudy and staring!" He turned tail and fled, yapping and screeching as he ran. Needle smirked.
"Ignorant thing," He sneered. Then, out of nowhere, a piercing howl split the air. Needle jumped up. Wildly turning his head, he sprinted towards the sound.
Needle came to a small cave. Low, quiet whimpers came from inside. Needle bolted in, and almost yelped in horror. The air was thick with the scent of blood- and dog. Needle took a step forwards. Under his paws, he felt something wet and sticky. He heard a soft moan.
"Help me..."
Chapter Four
"W-where are you?" Needle's voice quavered as he tried to pick up the sound of movement.
"Over here," Called the other dog. Needle followed his voice. The blood scent was much stronger now.
"Here?" He asked.
"Yes. Now, would you mind telling me who you are?"
"I'm Needle."
"Ah, a fine name for a fine young dog. Say, have you met any dogs by the name of Flower?"
"Why do you ask?" Needle kept his voice cool and uninterested, though excitement was welling up inside of him. This dog might know my mother!
"Well, last time I saw her she was expecting my pups. I was wondering how she was getting along."
"Your pups?!"
"Yes. Do you know them?"
"Of course! I'm one of them!"
"Oh, are you?" The old dog sounded amused at Needle's surprise. "Well, good to know."
"So, you're my father? You're F-Fox?"
Chapter Five
Fox nodded, then groaned.
"You're hurt!" Needle gasped.
"Nothing you can do for me except..." Fox struggled to speak. "-Except tell Flower that she-"
"She what?"
"She has- has to-"
"Has to what? Tell me!" Needle cried desperately.
"Tell her..." Fox's breathing stilled, and his eyes closed for the last time.
"Fox! Please! I have to know! What does Flower need to do? Fox! FOX!" Needle howled. "Come on!" Then his voice changed. It was now a low growl. "I don't have time for this. I have to find Flower. Tell her about Fox." He leaped to his paws, lifting his nose to the air as he tried to pick up a scent. Nothing came to him. Nothing that he needed. Nothing.
Chapter Six
"Where's Needle?! Where'd he go?!" Bird screeched. "His nest is empty!"
"Calm down." Flower tried to soothe her.
"NEVER tell me to calm down!" Bird snarled, whirling around to glare at her mother.
"Why would he be gone?" Flower wondered.
"I don't know!" Bird dug her claws into the ground in panic.
"He's gone! Gone! GONE!!!!!" She started fleeing into the forest. The blood pounded in her ears. Needle, Needle, Needle!
Chapter Seven
Needle came to a skidding stop in front of a huge human nest. Their giant bug, luckily, was asleep. It was completely silent. Needle picked up a faint human scent.
"Maybe they have a dog I can talk to," He thought out loud. "He might have seen Bird or Flower."
He took a step towards the nest. There was no scent at all. No dog lives here. Needle decided. Turning, he sighed. Needle had realized that his jourrney was not ending, but just beginning.
Needle's Path
Book Two: Into the Pack
Chapter One
Needle streaked through the forest, his paws skimming the ground as he fled.
"There's too many of them! Too many! But how? Where have they come from?" He yelped. When he came to a thick hedge, he knew it would be impossible to go over, under, or through it. He would have to face them. He turned, snarling. Stalking towards him were hundreds and hundreds of cats, all with glinting fangs and unsheathed claws. One cat stepped forwards, speaking in poor canine.
"Surrender, dog. Die. You die. We kill."
"Back off, cat! I will not die! You'll never kill me!" Needle growled back. "If anyone dies, it will be you.
"No. You leave, we give peace. You stay, we kill. Go now. Dog no belong here."
"Then I will leave. But only if you let me pass," Needle agreed. The crowd of cats soon parted, leaving space for Needle to go through. Several cats whispered to each other. Needle knew the feline language, so he understood their conversation. A group of three kittens sat together, mewling noisily.
"Why is he just staring ahead like that? It's freaky!" One squeaked.
"Sssh! Dogs have much better hearing then us! If he knows Feline, which is likely, he understands every word we say!" Another scorned. Then she hesitated. "Though I agree. He kind of creeps me out."
Needle ignored how impolite they were being and kept going. At last, he got out of earshot of the moving, noisy mass of smaller creatures. Finding a nice shelter, he lay down and fell asleep. That night he dreamed. He was on a hill above a vast moorland. Below him, he saw a raggedy figure dragging its self along weakly. How am I seeing? Will I always see in dreams? He wondered. And who and what is that strange shape? He took a step forward. Then another. Soon he was running fast. As he got closer, he recognized his sister.
"Hey!" He called out, and moved faster. But every step seemed to push him farther away from his beloved littermate. She was already disappearing beyond the horizon. "Wait! No, come back! Don't go!" Needle wailed. "Come back..."
2
Opening his eyes on darkness again, Needle almost howled with frustration. How could his sister do this to him? It's not her fault. A voice in his head urged. It was just a stupid dream. But part of him knew that it wasn't. I can't ignore this. But what can I do about it? And why wasn't Mother with her? Is she okay? Please let her be okay! Needle jumped to his paws. He didn't know why, but something drew him towards the deep forest, where it was always dark and cold. A comforting smell wafted to him from the heart of the forest. This place is familiar. He realized. Sniffing around in a shallow yet large scoop in the ground, memories came to him. He was lying in a warm and soft nest, with Sister and his mother curled up next to him. This is my home. I lived here. And now it's empty. Nobody lives here anymore. With a pang of sadness, Needle realized that if his mother and sister had left, it must have been for a reason. What were their names? My mother and sister's? And what did they used to call me? Needle wanted to whimper and cry like a puppy.
"I've forgotten everything! I'm not even me anymore!" He moaned. "I don't remember my own name!" He turned and ran madly back into the forest. He skidded to a halt in front of several human nests, gasping for breath. He heard a bark, obviously human, and felt paws close around him, lifting him and carrying him somewhere. He struggled at first, but stopped and was soon asleep in the human's paws.
3
Needle woke up to the sound of something clattering against metal. The scent of food drifted over, reminding Needle of how hungry he was. He pulled himself up and headed in the direction of food. The humans were always making a strange noise around him. It sounded like Cho-co-late. They're calling me Chocolate. Very well, I'm Chocolate. Chocolate thought, satisfied. Now he had a name and a home. Chocolate took a mouthful of food, and found it quite good. Not as good as a mouse or rabbit, but good.
After quite a while of living with humans, Chocolate started understanding the strange noises they made. He knew words like "vet" and "chair" and "good boy". The vet was where dogs went when they were sick. Will I ever go to the vet? He wondered. He heard a bark from the humans.
"Come!" When the humans said that, it meant that Chocolate was supposed to go to them. So he did go to them.
"Can we go for a walk? I want to go for a walk!" Chocolate begged, wagging his tail. The human did nothing. "You can't understand me, can you?" Chocolate whimpered. "Oh, well." He turned and went somewhere else to chew on the "shoes". I have to admit that this life is boring. He was usually bored half to death. There was never anything exciting going on. The best thing that had happened to him for weeks was going for a ride in the giant beetles the humans owned. He came up with a plan. It was just a stupid dream. But part of him knew that it wasn't. I can't ignore this. But what can I do about it? And why wasn't Mother with her? Is she okay? Please let her be okay! Needle jumped to his paws. He didn't know why, but something drew him towards the deep forest, where it was always dark and cold. A comforting smell wafted to him from the heart of the forest. This place is familiar. He realized. Sniffing around in a shallow yet large scoop in the ground, memories came to him. He was lying in a warm and soft nest, with Sister and his mother curled up next to him. This is my home. I lived here. And now it's empty. Nobody lives here anymore. With a pang of sadness, Needle realized that if his mother and sister had left, it must have been for a reason. What were their names? My mother and sister's? And what did they used to call me? Needle wanted to whimper and cry like a puppy.
"I've forgotten everything! I'm not even me anymore!" He moaned. "I don't remember my own name!" He turned and ran madly back into the forest. He skidded to a halt in front of several human nests, gasping for breath. He heard a bark, obviously human, and felt paws close around him, lifting him and carrying him somewhere. He struggled at first, but stopped and was soon asleep in the human's paws.
3
Needle woke up to the sound of something clattering against metal. The scent of food drifted over, reminding Needle of how hungry he was. He pulled himself up and headed in the direction of food. The humans were always making a strange noise around him. It sounded like Cho-co-late. They're calling me Chocolate. Very well, I'm Chocolate. Chocolate thought, satisfied. Now he had a name and a home. Chocolate took a mouthful of food, and found it quite good. Not as good as a mouse or rabbit, but good.
After quite a while of living with humans, Chocolate started understanding the strange noises they made. He knew words like "vet" and "chair" and "good boy". The vet was where dogs went when they were sick. Will I ever go to the vet? He wondered. He heard a bark from the humans.
"Come!" When the humans said that, it meant that Chocolate was supposed to go to them. So he did go to them.
"Can we go for a walk? I want to go for a walk!" Chocolate begged, wagging his tail. The human did nothing. "You can't understand me, can you?" Chocolate whimpered. "Oh, well." He turned and went somewhere else to chew on the "shoes". I have to admit that this life is boring. He was usually bored half to death. There was never anything exciting going on. The best thing that had happened to him for weeks was going for a ride in the giant beetles the humans owned. He came up with a plan.
When the humans let him out, he leaped the fence and ran across the path there.
“I'm frrrrrrrreeeeeeeee!” He sang. He stopped when he scented another dog. A bush rustled behind him, and a sandy brown female brown dog hurtled out. She snarled and growled, pinning Chocolate down. She fastened her teeth in Chocolate's collar and tugged, ripping it off. Chocolate struggled and kicked, but was unable to push the dog off. He glared upwards, not knowing what was there. He felt his attacker's grip loosen.
“Needle?” She whimpered. Memories washed over Chocolate. He was playing with his sister. His mother sat watching by a den. Their den.
“Bird!” He howled, no longer Chocolate, but Needle. “I knew I'd fiind you! Where's Mother?”
“Flower is getting old,” Bird replied grimly. “But she is well.”
“Well, I'm sorry, but I can't stay.”
“Oh. That's okay. I'm sure you're plenty busy.” Bird sounded hurt. She turned, and Needle continued.
Later on the trail, Needle heard a faint whimpering. He headed towards the noise. He scented blood and another dog. The scent said it was female, and not Bird. He found a young dog lying at the foot of a giant oak tree.
“Are you okay?” He called out.
“H-help me!” The dog cried. When Needle reached her, his paws landed in something sticky. So that was where the blood came from.
“What's wrong?” He questioned her.
“Can't you look and see for yourself?” She snapped.
“No,” Needle admitted.
“You're blind!”
“Please don't say that word! Now, tell me what's wrong.”
“Okay. There's a big thorn in my paw. Can you get it out?”
“Of course.” Needle took hold of the thorn in his teeth and pulled. The thorn was long and curved, but slid out easily. “Lick it to stop the bleeding,” He commanded. Nettle obeyed reluctantly.
“Thank you.”
“Don't mention it. I'm Needle, by the way.”
“And I'm Nettle. Oh, and Needle? You're on my Pack's territory. You'll have to come will me to Aspen, and she'll decide what to do with you.'
Needle agreed, and gulped. Would Aspen and the Pack rip him to shreds? Would they welcome him? Or just send him away with a warning? He followed Nettle farther into her territory.
The Pack wasn't as unfriendly as Needle had thought. Sure, a couple of the members were hostile, but that was all. Fire and Shadow, two members of the Pack, were especially dark. They shot vicious glances at Needle, and growled menacingly whenever he came near. But the leader, Aspen, greeted him warmly. She allowed Needle to join the Pack and become a Hunter. Needle could tell that Nettle enjoyed his company, and he enjoyed hers. When he had become a Hunter, he had felt waves of pride crashing off of her. They had been spendding more and more time together, until they finally became inseperable. I love her.Needle thought to himself one day. But does she feel the same about me?
Ｗｈｅｎ ｈｅ ｇｏｔ ｂａｃｋ， Ｎｅｔｔｌｅ ｗａｓ ｓｈａｒｉｎｇ ｐｒｅｙ ｗｉｔｈ Ｆｉｒｅ． Ｎｅｅｄｌｅ ｔｒｉｅｄ ｔｏ ｉｇｎｏｒｅ ｉｔ． Nettle would get over their little argument. She got over everything. But Needle just couldn't help feeling bad. What if Nettle and I weren't made to be together? Maybe she never really liked me as much as she liked Fire. She doesn't really need me. He got rid of that thought immediately. What am I thinking?! My brain must be messed up. Nettle can't ignore me forever. She still loves me. I know it.
5
“What is Aspen thinking?” Fire growled.
“She can't just bring that blind pup into the Clan and make him a Hunter!” Shadow agreed.
“The pup has to go.We will kill him tonight,” Fire snarled as Nettle listened in horror. They couldn't kill Needle! Fire was a traitor after all. And Nettle had loved him! She almost spat. She had to stop Fire and Shadow. She had to find Needle and warn him. She shrank back when the two traitors slipped out. Then she bolted for the forest.
Needle wasn't in the hunting ground. Or the battle training place. He wasn't in the Alpha's den, were Nettle checked and found only Aspen. She heard a yelp from the Hunters' den, and saw Fire and Shadow slink out. Panic-stricken, she noticed that they had blood on their paws. No!!!!! She screeched silently. I'm too late!
6
“Exile!” Aspen howled. Fire and Shadow stood facing the Pack. Two dogs held their tails to keep them back.
“Aspen!” We can't lose two dogs! We need more!” Grass protested.
“They're traitors!” Nettle growled. “We don't need them anymore.”
“Look at poor Needle! Look what they did.”
“They nearly killed him! That's what they did!”
“You have no proof!” snarled Fire.
“Yes we do!” Nettle's wail grew higher.
“Tell the Pack, Needle!” said Aspen.
Needle padded out of the Hunters' den.
“They attacked me. They did.”
“See? We have all the proof we need,” announced Aspen. Now get out of here!”
Fire and Shadow turned tail and fled. Needle listened to the Pack snarl and jeer. Needle wondered why they were excited about losing two of the best dogs. As he passed by three pups, he heard them playing. One was ordering the other two around.
“I'll be Fire, you be Shadow. You be Needle, and we'll attack you!” It said.
Needle bristled. He came up to the pups, his blind eyes blazing. Before he could say anything, Nettle came to his side.
“Is that any way to act?” She demanded. “One of your Packmates was almost killed, and you make a game out of it!”
“We're s-s-sorry!” The pup who was supposed to be Shadow stammered. “No, we're not! ” The Fire pup growled to his littermate. “Who are you, our teacher?” He retorted, glaring at Nettle. She snorted and padded away. Needle shot one last dirty look at the pups and followed. He would deal with them later. But for now, he was just going to get used to his new life in the Pack.
Needle's Path
Book Three: Memories
1
Needle crept forward, cursing himself silently for inheriting cat characteristics. His prey, a lone hawk, was hovering above. Needle decided that one good leap would get it. He took another step, then sprang. He brought the bird to the ground, landing a hard blow to its spine. The hawk let out a short screech, then fell limp. Needle smiled, satisfied.
Needle took the bird back to camp. He achieved several gasps and a yelp for the size of his prey.
"Hi, Daddy!" Needle turned at the voice. It was Pine, Needle and Nettle's pup. Needle faced her.
"Hi, Pine," Needle greeted. "Like my bird?"
"Yeah!" Pine barked. " That thing'll feed the Pack forever!"
Needle laughed. "You really think so?"
"Uh huh!"
"Pine! Come here!" Nettle called from the nursery.
"Coming!" Pine ran to the nursery. Needle dropped his bird on the Food Pile. The Food Pile was growing rapidly, for it was finally Green Leaf Season. They prey was running well. Pretty much all the prey was fell-fed and easy to catch. Luckily for Needle, the Pack was full of skilled hunters. Needle pulled a rabbit off the pile and dragged it to the clearing. As he ate, he couldn't help thinking about Fire and Shadow. How are they now?
Chapter Two
Bird looked around for her son, Thorn. He was nowhere to be seen. Neither was Thorn's father, Patch. Bird wondered where they had disappeared to. Probably hunting. She sat and began grooming her paws. She stood up again and stepped outside. A warm breezee blew through the green trees. Bird smiled. If only it could be so perfect all the time. Bird hoped Needle was still alive. It's my fault he's gone. She reminded herself. She shook the thought away. No, he CHOSE to leave. It ISN'T my fault! And he probably is alive. Needle's a strong dog. He can survive out there. When he comes back, I'll welcome him! No. She corrected herself. IF he comes back.
Chapter Three
Needle waited for Nettle beneath the Tall Oak on the Pack's territory. It was the same oak that Needle had first met Nettle by. I remember when I first met Nettle. She was lying under this tree and I came up to her. She had a long thorn in her paw, and I pulled it out.
"Needle!" A hissing voice interrupted his thoughts. A dark shape hurtled out of the tree at Needle, ramming into him and pinning him down. It was a shockingly familiar dog.
"Shadow!" He snarled. Shadow grinned evilly, nodding.
"Did you miss me?" He leaned forward, sinking his teeth into Needle's neck. Needle howled and swatted at Shadow's face hard. He managed to land a blow next to his nose. Shadow sat back, dazed for a split second. Then he leapt back up with a growl.
"Do you really think you can defeat me? You lost last time, what makes you think you won't lose again?"
"I did, but that was then. I have been trained to fight. I'm more skilled now," Needle replied hatefully.
Needle's Path
Book One: The Beginning1
"Come on, Needle! Open your eyes already!" Bird nagged. "Please?"
"Stop that!" Flower snapped. "Don't you have anything to do that's not bugging your brother?"
"Sorry, Momma," Bird muttered, looking at her paws. "I'll make myself useful and go hunting." She bounded away. At that moment, Needle stretched open his eyes. Horrified, he let out a sudden wail.
"I can't see!"
Bird now returned with a small squirrel.
"Oh, shush!" She scoffed. "You're just being dramatic!"
"No! I can't see! It's just so dark! Dark, horrible nothingness!" Needle was howling now. "I can't, I can't, I just CAN'T!"
"Hush, little one," Flower soothed. "Maybe you're not used to seeing."
"I bet your eyes will adjust," Bird added. Needle brightened a bit.
"You're right!"
Chapter Two
About a half moon later, Needle overheard Bird and Flower whispering to each other.
"Mom, you can't hide this from him!" Needle heard Bird say.
"It's for his own good that he doesn't know!" Flower growled back. "If he knew, he would be heartbroken!"
"Well, you'll have to tell him some time. Let's face it. He'll never see. He's blind, and he's going to figure it out eventually," Bird snarled quietly.
"What will we do with him, then? If he can't see, how will he survive?"
"I don't know. He'll be a horrible hunter. And of course, a horrible fighter. He doesn't even know where he's putting his paws!"
Needle turned his head downwards. He didn't see his paws. I don't, and I never will. He thought bitterly. He started out into the forest, his head and tail hanging.
"I'll just leave them. Leave and never come back. They don't need a BLIND-" he spat the word out like a piece of rotten food. "-pup who can't even catch his own prey. Well, this blind pup doesn't need them. I have no home, no family, and no skill. I'm useless."
Chapter Three
After walking for quite a while, Needle smelled something unfamiliar. By the scent Needle could tell it was another dog; one younger than he. Something moved in the bushes. A tiny animal came hurtling out at Needle. Needle sidestepped, sending the young dog crashing to the ground. The pup scrambled to his paws and looked up at Needle.
"Ｈi! I've never seen you before! My name is- woah! Why are you staring at me? Stop it!" He yelped. Needle looked away shamefully.
"What's wrong with you?" The pup inquired.
"There's nothing wrong with me!" Needle whipped around. He leaned over until his nose was a claw-length from the pup's face.
"Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!" The pup squealed. "Your eyes are all cloudy and staring!" He turned tail and fled, yapping and screeching as he ran. Needle smirked.
"Ignorant thing," He sneered. Then, out of nowhere, a piercing howl split the air. Needle jumped up. Wildly turning his head, he sprinted towards the sound.
Needle came to a small cave. Low, quiet whimpers came from inside. Needle bolted in, and almost yelped in horror. The air was thick with the scent of blood- and dog. Needle took a step forwards. Under his paws, he felt something wet and sticky. He heard a soft moan.
"Help me..."
Chapter Four
"W-where are you?" Needle's voice quavered as he tried to pick up the sound of movement.
"Over here," Called the other dog. Needle followed his voice. The blood scent was much stronger now.
"Here?" He asked.
"Yes. Now, would you mind telling me who you are?"
"I'm Needle."
"Ah, a fine name for a fine young dog. Say, have you met any dogs by the name of Flower?"
"Why do you ask?" Needle kept his voice cool and uninterested, though excitement was welling up inside of him. This dog might know my mother!
"Well, last time I saw her she was expecting my pups. I was wondering how she was getting along."
"Your pups?!"
"Yes. Do you know them?"
"Of course! I'm one of them!"
"Oh, are you?" The old dog sounded amused at Needle's surprise. "Well, good to know."
"So, you're my father? You're F-Fox?"
Chapter Five
Fox nodded, then groaned.
"You're hurt!" Needle gasped.
"Nothing you can do for me except..." Fox struggled to speak. "-Except tell Flower that she-"
"She what?"
"She has- has to-"
"Has to what? Tell me!" Needle cried desperately.
"Tell her..." Fox's breathing stilled, and his eyes closed for the last time.
"Fox! Please! I have to know! What does Flower need to do? Fox! FOX!" Needle howled. "Come on!" Then his voice changed. It was now a low growl. "I don't have time for this. I have to find Flower. Tell her about Fox." He leaped to his paws, lifting his nose to the air as he tried to pick up a scent. Nothing came to him. Nothing that he needed. Nothing.
Chapter Six
"Where's Needle?! Where'd he go?!" Bird screeched. "His nest is empty!"
"Calm down." Flower tried to soothe her.
"NEVER tell me to calm down!" Bird snarled, whirling around to glare at her mother.
"Why would he be gone?" Flower wondered.
"I don't know!" Bird dug her claws into the ground in panic.
"He's gone! Gone! GONE!!!!!" She started fleeing into the forest. The blood pounded in her ears. Needle, Needle, Needle!
Chapter Seven
Needle came to a skidding stop in front of a huge human nest. Their giant bug, luckily, was asleep. It was completely silent. Needle picked up a faint human scent.
"Maybe they have a dog I can talk to," He thought out loud. "He might have seen Bird or Flower."
He took a step towards the nest. There was no scent at all. No dog lives here. Needle decided. Turning, he sighed. Needle had realized that his jourrney was not ending, but just beginning.
Needle's Path
Book Two: Into the PackChapter One
Needle streaked through the forest, his paws skimming the ground as he fled.
"There's too many of them! Too many! But how? Where have they come from?" He yelped. When he came to a thick hedge, he knew it would be impossible to go over, under, or through it. He would have to face them. He turned, snarling. Stalking towards him were hundreds and hundreds of cats, all with glinting fangs and unsheathed claws. One cat stepped forwards, speaking in poor canine.
"Surrender, dog. Die. You die. We kill."
"Back off, cat! I will not die! You'll never kill me!" Needle growled back. "If anyone dies, it will be you.
"No. You leave, we give peace. You stay, we kill. Go now. Dog no belong here."
"Then I will leave. But only if you let me pass," Needle agreed. The crowd of cats soon parted, leaving space for Needle to go through. Several cats whispered to each other. Needle knew the feline language, so he understood their conversation. A group of three kittens sat together, mewling noisily.
"Why is he just staring ahead like that? It's freaky!" One squeaked.
"Sssh! Dogs have much better hearing then us! If he knows Feline, which is likely, he understands every word we say!" Another scorned. Then she hesitated. "Though I agree. He kind of creeps me out."
Needle ignored how impolite they were being and kept going. At last, he got out of earshot of the moving, noisy mass of smaller creatures. Finding a nice shelter, he lay down and fell asleep. That night he dreamed. He was on a hill above a vast moorland. Below him, he saw a raggedy figure dragging its self along weakly. How am I seeing? Will I always see in dreams? He wondered. And who and what is that strange shape? He took a step forward. Then another. Soon he was running fast. As he got closer, he recognized his sister.
"Hey!" He called out, and moved faster. But every step seemed to push him farther away from his beloved littermate. She was already disappearing beyond the horizon. "Wait! No, come back! Don't go!" Needle wailed. "Come back..."
2
Opening his eyes on darkness again, Needle almost howled with frustration. How could his sister do this to him? It's not her fault. A voice in his head urged. It was just a stupid dream. But part of him knew that it wasn't. I can't ignore this. But what can I do about it? And why wasn't Mother with her? Is she okay? Please let her be okay! Needle jumped to his paws. He didn't know why, but something drew him towards the deep forest, where it was always dark and cold. A comforting smell wafted to him from the heart of the forest. This place is familiar. He realized. Sniffing around in a shallow yet large scoop in the ground, memories came to him. He was lying in a warm and soft nest, with Sister and his mother curled up next to him. This is my home. I lived here. And now it's empty. Nobody lives here anymore. With a pang of sadness, Needle realized that if his mother and sister had left, it must have been for a reason. What were their names? My mother and sister's? And what did they used to call me? Needle wanted to whimper and cry like a puppy.
"I've forgotten everything! I'm not even me anymore!" He moaned. "I don't remember my own name!" He turned and ran madly back into the forest. He skidded to a halt in front of several human nests, gasping for breath. He heard a bark, obviously human, and felt paws close around him, lifting him and carrying him somewhere. He struggled at first, but stopped and was soon asleep in the human's paws.
3
Needle woke up to the sound of something clattering against metal. The scent of food drifted over, reminding Needle of how hungry he was. He pulled himself up and headed in the direction of food. The humans were always making a strange noise around him. It sounded like Cho-co-late. They're calling me Chocolate. Very well, I'm Chocolate. Chocolate thought, satisfied. Now he had a name and a home. Chocolate took a mouthful of food, and found it quite good. Not as good as a mouse or rabbit, but good.
After quite a while of living with humans, Chocolate started understanding the strange noises they made. He knew words like "vet" and "chair" and "good boy". The vet was where dogs went when they were sick. Will I ever go to the vet? He wondered. He heard a bark from the humans.
"Come!" When the humans said that, it meant that Chocolate was supposed to go to them. So he did go to them.
"Can we go for a walk? I want to go for a walk!" Chocolate begged, wagging his tail. The human did nothing. "You can't understand me, can you?" Chocolate whimpered. "Oh, well." He turned and went somewhere else to chew on the "shoes". I have to admit that this life is boring. He was usually bored half to death. There was never anything exciting going on. The best thing that had happened to him for weeks was going for a ride in the giant beetles the humans owned. He came up with a plan.
It was just a stupid dream. But part of him knew that it wasn't. I can't ignore this. But what can I do about it? And why wasn't Mother with her? Is she okay? Please let her be okay! Needle jumped to his paws. He didn't know why, but something drew him towards the deep forest, where it was always dark and cold. A comforting smell wafted to him from the heart of the forest. This place is familiar. He realized. Sniffing around in a shallow yet large scoop in the ground, memories came to him. He was lying in a warm and soft nest, with Sister and his mother curled up next to him. This is my home. I lived here. And now it's empty. Nobody lives here anymore. With a pang of sadness, Needle realized that if his mother and sister had left, it must have been for a reason. What were their names? My mother and sister's? And what did they used to call me? Needle wanted to whimper and cry like a puppy.
"I've forgotten everything! I'm not even me anymore!" He moaned. "I don't remember my own name!" He turned and ran madly back into the forest. He skidded to a halt in front of several human nests, gasping for breath. He heard a bark, obviously human, and felt paws close around him, lifting him and carrying him somewhere. He struggled at first, but stopped and was soon asleep in the human's paws.
3
Needle woke up to the sound of something clattering against metal. The scent of food drifted over, reminding Needle of how hungry he was. He pulled himself up and headed in the direction of food. The humans were always making a strange noise around him. It sounded like Cho-co-late. They're calling me Chocolate. Very well, I'm Chocolate. Chocolate thought, satisfied. Now he had a name and a home. Chocolate took a mouthful of food, and found it quite good. Not as good as a mouse or rabbit, but good.
After quite a while of living with humans, Chocolate started understanding the strange noises they made. He knew words like "vet" and "chair" and "good boy". The vet was where dogs went when they were sick. Will I ever go to the vet? He wondered. He heard a bark from the humans.
"Come!" When the humans said that, it meant that Chocolate was supposed to go to them. So he did go to them.
"Can we go for a walk? I want to go for a walk!" Chocolate begged, wagging his tail. The human did nothing. "You can't understand me, can you?" Chocolate whimpered. "Oh, well." He turned and went somewhere else to chew on the "shoes". I have to admit that this life is boring. He was usually bored half to death. There was never anything exciting going on. The best thing that had happened to him for weeks was going for a ride in the giant beetles the humans owned. He came up with a plan.
When the humans let him out, he leaped the fence and ran across the path there.
“I'm frrrrrrrreeeeeeeee!” He sang. He stopped when he scented another dog. A bush rustled behind him, and a sandy brown female brown dog hurtled out. She snarled and growled, pinning Chocolate down. She fastened her teeth in Chocolate's collar and tugged, ripping it off. Chocolate struggled and kicked, but was unable to push the dog off. He glared upwards, not knowing what was there. He felt his attacker's grip loosen.
“Needle?” She whimpered. Memories washed over Chocolate. He was playing with his sister. His mother sat watching by a den. Their den.
“Bird!” He howled, no longer Chocolate, but Needle. “I knew I'd fiind you! Where's Mother?”
“Flower is getting old,” Bird replied grimly. “But she is well.”
“Well, I'm sorry, but I can't stay.”
“Oh. That's okay. I'm sure you're plenty busy.” Bird sounded hurt. She turned, and Needle continued.
Later on the trail, Needle heard a faint whimpering. He headed towards the noise. He scented blood and another dog. The scent said it was female, and not Bird. He found a young dog lying at the foot of a giant oak tree.
“Are you okay?” He called out.
“H-help me!” The dog cried. When Needle reached her, his paws landed in something sticky. So that was where the blood came from.
“What's wrong?” He questioned her.
“Can't you look and see for yourself?” She snapped.
“No,” Needle admitted.
“You're blind!”
“Please don't say that word! Now, tell me what's wrong.”
“Okay. There's a big thorn in my paw. Can you get it out?”
“Of course.” Needle took hold of the thorn in his teeth and pulled. The thorn was long and curved, but slid out easily. “Lick it to stop the bleeding,” He commanded. Nettle obeyed reluctantly.
“Thank you.”
“Don't mention it. I'm Needle, by the way.”
“And I'm Nettle. Oh, and Needle? You're on my Pack's territory. You'll have to come will me to Aspen, and she'll decide what to do with you.'
Needle agreed, and gulped. Would Aspen and the Pack rip him to shreds? Would they welcome him? Or just send him away with a warning? He followed Nettle farther into her territory.
The Pack wasn't as unfriendly as Needle had thought. Sure, a couple of the members were hostile, but that was all. Fire and Shadow, two members of the Pack, were especially dark. They shot vicious glances at Needle, and growled menacingly whenever he came near. But the leader, Aspen, greeted him warmly. She allowed Needle to join the Pack and become a Hunter. Needle could tell that Nettle enjoyed his company, and he enjoyed hers. When he had become a Hunter, he had felt waves of pride crashing off of her. They had been spendding more and more time together, until they finally became inseperable. I love her. Needle thought to himself one day. But does she feel the same about me?
4
”Ｉｔ’ｓ ｓｕｃｈ ａ ｎｉｃｅ ｄａｙ！” Ｎｅｔｔｌｅ
ｅｘｃｌａｉｍｅｄ． Ｓｈｅ ａｎｄ Ｎｅｅｄｌｅ ｗｅｒｅ ｔａｋｉｎｇ ａ
ｗａｌｋ ａｌｏｎｇ ｔｈｅ ｍｏｕｎｔａｉｎｓｉｄｅ． Ｔｈｅｒｅ ｗａｓ ａ
ｌｏｔ ｏｆ ｒａｂｂｉｔ ｈｏｌｅｓ ｏｎ ｔｈｅ ｐａｔｈ， ａｎｄ ｔｈｅｙ ｈａｄ ｔｏ ａｖｏｉｄ ｔｈｅｍ． Ｎｅｅｄｌｅ ｔｏｏｋ ａ ｓｔｅｐ． Ｈｅ ｈｅａｒｄ， ”Ｗａｔｃｈ ｏｕｔ！！！！！” ａｎｄ ｆｅｌｔ ｔｅｅｔｈ
ｍｅｅｔ ｉｎ ｈｉｓ ｓｃｒｕｆｆ． Ｈｅ ｔｕｒｎｅｄ， ｓｎａｒｌｉｎｇ． Ｎｅｔｔｌｅ ｒｅｔｒｅａｔｅｄ．
”Ｗｈａｔ ｗａｓ ｔｈａｔ？！” Ｈｅ ｓｐａｔ．
”Ｙｏｕ ｗｅｒｅ ｇｏｉｎｇ ｔｏ ｆａｌｌ ｄｏｗｎ ａ ｒａｂｂｉｔ
ｈｏｌｅ！ Ｎｅｘｔ ｔｉｍｅ Ｉ ｈｏｐｅ ｙｏｕ ｆａｌｌ ｉｎ！”
Ｎｅｔｔｌｅ ｄｅｆｅｎｄｅｄ ｈｅｒｓｅｌｆ． Ｓｈｅ ｔｕｒｎｅｄ ａｎｄ
ｒａｎ ｂａｃｋ ｔｏ ｃａｍｐ． Ｎｅｅｄｌｅ ｗｅｎｔ ｔｏｏ， ｂｕｔ ｈｅ ｔｏｏｋ ｈｉｓ ｔｉｍｅ．
Ｗｈｅｎ ｈｅ ｇｏｔ ｂａｃｋ， Ｎｅｔｔｌｅ ｗａｓ ｓｈａｒｉｎｇ
ｐｒｅｙ ｗｉｔｈ Ｆｉｒｅ． Ｎｅｅｄｌｅ ｔｒｉｅｄ ｔｏ ｉｇｎｏｒｅ
ｉｔ． Nettle would get over their little argument. She got over everything. But Needle just couldn't help feeling bad. What if Nettle and I weren't made to be together? Maybe she never really liked me as much as she liked Fire. She doesn't really need me. He got rid of that thought immediately. What am I thinking?! My brain must be messed up. Nettle can't ignore me forever. She still loves me. I know it.
5
“What is Aspen thinking?” Fire growled.
“She can't just bring that blind pup into the Clan and make him a Hunter!” Shadow agreed.
“The pup has to go.We will kill him tonight,” Fire snarled as Nettle listened in horror. They couldn't kill Needle! Fire was a traitor after all. And Nettle had loved him! She almost spat. She had to stop Fire and Shadow. She had to find Needle and warn him. She shrank back when the two traitors slipped out. Then she bolted for the forest.
Needle wasn't in the hunting ground. Or the battle training place. He wasn't in the Alpha's den, were Nettle checked and found only Aspen. She heard a yelp from the Hunters' den, and saw Fire and Shadow slink out. Panic-stricken, she noticed that they had blood on their paws. No!!!!! She screeched silently. I'm too late!
6
“Exile!” Aspen howled. Fire and Shadow stood facing the Pack. Two dogs held their tails to keep them back.
“Aspen!” We can't lose two dogs! We need more!” Grass protested.
“They're traitors!” Nettle growled. “We don't need them anymore.”
“Look at poor Needle! Look what they did.”
“They nearly killed him! That's what they did!”
“You have no proof!” snarled Fire.
“Yes we do!” Nettle's wail grew higher.
“Tell the Pack, Needle!” said Aspen.
Needle padded out of the Hunters' den.
“They attacked me. They did.”
“See? We have all the proof we need,” announced Aspen. Now get out of here!”
Fire and Shadow turned tail and fled. Needle listened to the Pack snarl and jeer. Needle wondered why they were excited about losing two of the best dogs. As he passed by three pups, he heard them playing. One was ordering the other two around.
“I'll be Fire, you be Shadow. You be Needle, and we'll attack you!” It said.
Needle bristled. He came up to the pups, his blind eyes blazing. Before he could say anything, Nettle came to his side.
“Is that any way to act?” She demanded. “One of your Packmates was almost killed, and you make a game out of it!”
“We're s-s-sorry!” The pup who was supposed to be Shadow stammered.
“No, we're not! ” The Fire pup growled to his littermate. “Who are you, our teacher?” He retorted, glaring at Nettle. She snorted and padded away. Needle shot one last dirty look at the pups and followed. He would deal with them later. But for now, he was just going to get used to his new life in the Pack.
Needle's Path
Book Three: Memories
1
Needle crept forward, cursing himself silently for inheriting cat characteristics. His prey, a lone hawk, was hovering above. Needle decided that one good leap would get it. He took another step, then sprang. He brought the bird to the ground, landing a hard blow to its spine. The hawk let out a short screech, then fell limp. Needle smiled, satisfied.
Needle took the bird back to camp. He achieved several gasps and a yelp for the size of his prey.
"Hi, Daddy!" Needle turned at the voice. It was Pine, Needle and Nettle's pup. Needle faced her.
"Hi, Pine," Needle greeted. "Like my bird?"
"Yeah!" Pine barked. " That thing'll feed the Pack forever!"
Needle laughed. "You really think so?"
"Uh huh!"
"Pine! Come here!" Nettle called from the nursery.
"Coming!" Pine ran to the nursery. Needle dropped his bird on the Food Pile. The Food Pile was growing rapidly, for it was finally Green Leaf Season. They prey was running well. Pretty much all the prey was fell-fed and easy to catch. Luckily for Needle, the Pack was full of skilled hunters. Needle pulled a rabbit off the pile and dragged it to the clearing. As he ate, he couldn't help thinking about Fire and Shadow. How are they now?
Chapter Two
Bird looked around for her son, Thorn. He was nowhere to be seen. Neither was Thorn's father, Patch. Bird wondered where they had disappeared to. Probably hunting. She sat and began grooming her paws. She stood up again and stepped outside. A warm breezee blew through the green trees. Bird smiled. If only it could be so perfect all the time. Bird hoped Needle was still alive. It's my fault he's gone. She reminded herself. She shook the thought away. No, he CHOSE to leave. It ISN'T my fault! And he probably is alive. Needle's a strong dog. He can survive out there. When he comes back, I'll welcome him! No. She corrected herself. IF he comes back.
Chapter Three
Needle waited for Nettle beneath the Tall Oak on the Pack's territory. It was the same oak that Needle had first met Nettle by. I remember when I first met Nettle. She was lying under this tree and I came up to her. She had a long thorn in her paw, and I pulled it out.
"Needle!" A hissing voice interrupted his thoughts. A dark shape hurtled out of the tree at Needle, ramming into him and pinning him down. It was a shockingly familiar dog.
"Shadow!" He snarled. Shadow grinned evilly, nodding.
"Did you miss me?" He leaned forward, sinking his teeth into Needle's neck. Needle howled and swatted at Shadow's face hard. He managed to land a blow next to his nose. Shadow sat back, dazed for a split second. Then he leapt back up with a growl.
"Do you really think you can defeat me? You lost last time, what makes you think you won't lose again?"
"I did, but that was then. I have been trained to fight. I'm more skilled now," Needle replied hatefully.